Illawarra

The Illawarra is a coastal region in the southeast of the Australian state of New South Wales, nestled between the mountains and the sea. It is situated immediately south of Sydney and north of the South Coast region. It encompasses the two cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour and the coastal town of Kiama. Wollongong is the largest city of the Illawarra with a population of 240,000, then Shellharbour with a population of 70,000 and Kiama with a population of 10,000. These three cities have their own suburbs. Wollongong stretches from Otford in the north to Windang in the south, with Maddens Plains and Cordeaux in the west.

For other uses, see Illawarra (disambiguation).

Illawarra
New South Wales
Sunset over Lake Illawarra
Illawarra is located in New South Wales
Illawarra
Illawarra
Coordinates34.5°S 150.9°E / -34.5; 150.9
Population313,842 (2021)[1]
 • Density288.19/km2 (746.4/sq mi)
Area1,089 km2 (420.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT (UTC+11)
Location81 km (50 mi) S of Sydney
LGA(s)
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
Localities around Illawarra:
Macarthur (Greater Sydney) Southern Sydney (Greater Sydney) Tasman Sea
Southern Highlands Illawarra Tasman Sea
Southern Tablelands South Coast Tasman Sea

The Illawarra region is characterised by three distinct districts: the north-central district, which is a contiguous urban sprawl centred on Lake Illawarra, the western district defined by the Illawarra escarpment, which leads up to the fringe of Greater Metropolitan Sydney including the Macarthur in the northwest, and to the Southern Highlands region in the southwest, which is historically semi-rural, but now defined by increasing urbanisation.

Etymology

The word "illawarra" is derived from the Aboriginal Tharawal word "allowrie," also sometimes spelled as "elouera" or "eloura." According to A. W. Reed, the word is variously translated as "pleasant place near the sea" or "high place near the sea."[2][3] The prefix of "illa" is also known to mean "white clay;" with the suffix "warra," sometimes spelled as "wurra," meaning "mountain" in the local indigenous language.[3] George Bass and Matthew Flinders were the first Europeans to visit the area, with Flinders recording that it 'was called "Allowrie" by the natives'.[2]

For the period around 1806, the region was called "Five Islands"; referring to the group of five islands off Red Point.[2][4] In 1817 Governor Macquarie, referring to region, wrote: 'part of the coast known generally by the name of the Five Islands, but called by the natives "Illawarra".[2]

History

Geography
Lookout from the Illawarra escarpment above Wombarra over the northern Illawarra plain viewing Austinmer, Thirroul, Bulli, Wollongong up to Port Kembla in the far.
Illawarra Escarpment above Austinmer, showing Hawkesbury sandstone, Rainforest and Eucalyptus forest.
A section of the Illawarra coastline, c. 1900

The region consists of a grassy coastal plain, narrow in the north and wider in the south, bounded by the Tasman Sea on the east and the mountainous, almost impassable Illawarra escarpment (forming the eastern edge of the Southern Highlands plateau) to the west. In the middle of the region is Lake Illawarra, a shallow lake formed when sediment built up at the entrance to a bay. The district extends from the southern hills of the Royal National Park in the north to the Shoalhaven River in the south, and contains the city of Wollongong, the fourth largest urban area in New South Wales.

North of Wollongong the plain narrows to a small strip of land between the coast and the escarpment. At Coalcliff and Stanwell Park small valleys are formed allowing further settlement. To the south it widens, and becomes increasingly hillier before reaching Stockyard Mountain, a long divide between the main plain and the Jamberoo Valley, which stretches until it reaches Kiama. South of Kiama is Saddleback Mountain and south of that the Shoalhaven plains and the outcrop of Coolangatta Mountain.

Ecology
Illawarra Sunset

Ecologically, the coastal grassy region of the Illawarra is within the Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland biome. Characteristic tree species in the region include Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus eugenioides, Eucalyptus longifolia, Eucalyptus bosistoana and Melaleuca decora. Shrub species include Acacia mearnsii, Dodonaea viscosa and as well as the endangered orchard Pterostylis gibbosa.[5]

The wet elevated areas of the Illawarra, where rainfall exceeds 1300mm, are within the Southern Lowland Wet Sclerophyll Forests and Southern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll Forests biomes which generally feature tall, compact eucalyptus forests 30m-60m tall and understorey that include moist shrubs, tree ferns, a few vines and a uninterrupted herbaceous groundcover.[6][7] The Illawarra-Shoalhaven subtropical rainforest lies in the region.

Government administration

For the purposes of Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives, the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral Divisions of Cunningham, Whitlam and the northern tip of Gilmore.[8][9][10]

For the purposes of New South Wales elections for the NSW Legislative Assembly, the Illawarra region is contained within the electoral districts of Wollongong, Keira, Shellharbour, Heathcote, and Kiama.

For the purposes of local government administration, the Illawarra region is contained within the cities of Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Municipality of Kiama.

  • The City of Wollongong forms the northernmost boundary, ranging from Helensburgh to Lake Illawarra, with northernmost coastal suburb Helensburgh and southernmost suburbs including Windang, Yallah and Haywards Bay.
  • The City of Shellharbour is south of Wollongong City, and ranges from Albion Park Rail in the north, west to Macquarie Pass near the escarpment, south to Dunmore near the Minnamurra River, and bordered on the east by ocean stretching from Lake Illawarra, Warilla, Barrack Point and Shellharbour.
  • The Municipality of Kiama is south of Shellharbour City, and ranges from the Minnamurra River, west to Bald Hill, and south to about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Gerroa.

Economy

The main industries in the area have traditionally been farming, coal mining and steel making. Australia's largest steel-works, BlueScope, operates at Port Kembla. The area, especially around Port Kembla and Wollongong, was once known for its mainly industrial jobs, but since the 1990s commerce has played an increasing role in the city, overtaking industry in many areas.

Illawarra cattle were originally bred in Illawarra and are now Australia's 3rd largest breed in population. They are large dark red cows sometimes with white patches. They produce large amounts of high butter fat and high protein milk and are suited to the Australian climate.[11] The Illawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Factory was used by the Illawarra Central Co-operative Dairy Co. Ltd. for the intake of milk and cream from dairy farmers in the local area.

Coal mining has been a key part to the Illawarra's economy for over 200 years.[12] The southern part of the region has been a source of crushed-stone construction aggregate and railway track ballast material for over 140 years.[13]

Transport

The Illawarra region is linked to Sydney in the north by several passes, a motorway (Southern Freeway) and an electric railway (see Illawarra railway line); to the west by the Illawarra Highway and Picton Road; and to the south by the Princes Highway. At Albion Park Rail the Illawarra Regional Airport serves the region.[14]

Sport

Rugby League Football

The Illawarra Steelers Rugby league Football Club played in the NSWRL rugby league competition, then the NRL, from 1982 to 1998, and currently forms one half of the St George Illawarra Dragons joint venture, who play six of their twelve home games at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. The Illawarra Steelers still field teams in the lower rugby league divisions.

Many famous footballers, such as Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Mick Cronin, Rod Wishart, Paul McGregor, Craig Fitzgibbon, Luke Bailey, Steve Roach, Garry Jack, Warren Ryan, and the Stewart brothers Brett and Glenn, have come from the Illawarra region.

Basketball

The Illawarra Hawks have represented the region (previously known as The Hawks and the Wollongong Hawks) since the foundation year of the NBL, 1979. They won the NBL championship in 2001 defeating the Townsville Crocs 2-1 in the best of 3 finals. They also finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010 seasons. The team caught global attention when American teen sensation LaMelo Ball announced on ESPN's show The Jump that he will be joining the Hawks through the NBL's Next Star program. In April 2020, LaMelo Ball and his business manager, Jermaine Jackson announced they had bought the Hawks.[15]

Association football

The Wollongong Wolves participated in the now defunct NSL, winning back to back premierships in 2000 and 2001. The Wolves were not selected for the NSL's replacement, the A-League, and instead chose to compete in the New South Wales Premier League under the name Wollongong FC. The Wolves organisation collapsed in 2008, and was taken over by Wollongong Community Football Club. The Wolves have continued to play in the New South Wales Premier League.

Cricket

Cricket has also been played in the Illawarra for at least one hundred and fifty years with the Keira Cricket Club being founded in 1862.

Water Polo

The first recorded match of water polo in the Illawarra came in 1894, in a men's match between the Wollongong and Kiama Swim Clubs at Brighton Beach. The Kiama Swim Club prevailed, winning 3-0.[16] Water polo is currently played at UOW Pool through the Illawarra Water Polo Club. Each year, Illawarra also compete at the NSW Country Club Championships, whereby the Illawarra U14's boys won in 2021.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Illawarra". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  2. Reed, A. W (1973). Place names of Australia. Sydney: Reed Books. p. 120.
  3. "Illawarra Range". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  4. "Northern Illawarra". NorthernIllawarra.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 February 2007. Retrieved 22 March 2007.
  5. "Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion - profile". NSW Environment, Energy and Science. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  6. "Southern Lowland Wet Sclerophyll Forests". NSW Government – Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales). Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  7. "Southern Escarpment Wet Sclerophyll Forests". NSW Government – Office of Environment and Heritage (New South Wales). Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. "Profile of the electoral division of Cunningham (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  9. "Profile of the electoral division of Whitlam (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. "Profile of the electoral division of Gilmore (NSW)". Australian Electoral Commission. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  11. "Information about Illawarra Cattle". Illawarras Australia. 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
  12. Spillett, Emma; Langford, Ben (23 May 2014). "Gloomy times for mining in the Illawarra". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.
  13. "The Stone Fleet and the Blue Diamond Trade". www.uniteddivers.com.au. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  14. "The Stone Fleet and the Blue Diamond Trade". www.uniteddivers.com.au. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  15. "LaMelo Ball buys struggling Illawarra Hawks: report". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 April 2020. Archived from the original on 3 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  16. "WOLLONGONG SWIMMING CLUB". Trove.
  17. "Why Illawarra Water Polo". Illawarra Water Polo.
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